Chapter 21 Concerns
‘There is one more potential rumour we have to address,’ said Deveril as he sat up and turned to Jane. ‘I am afraid this concerns you as well, Miss Bennet.’
Since Darcy was on his best behaviour and was proving his cousin’s faith in his character, Deveril had been content to sit back and listen.
Now that Miss Bingley had been dealt with, he thought he needed to add his own information to ensure there would not be any misunderstandings to come back and cause problems.
‘Yes, Mr Deveril? Which potential rumour is that?’ Jane asked in concern.
‘I am afraid that I have not been entirely truthful.’ He said with a rueful smile. ‘I never corrected your form of address after Cousin Amelia introduced us. Since my older brother is the Duke of Barrington, the proper form of address for me is Lord James.’
Jane blanched. ‘Your brother is a duke?’ she gasped. She looked at the other gentlemen. ‘You knew.’ It was a statement, not a question.
‘I am afraid so,’ Fitzwilliam confirmed.
‘Why did you not –‘ Jane started to ask, only to be interrupted by Elizabeth.
‘I suppose that in your situation it is difficult to know if someone likes you for yourself or is only interested because of your position,’ she said to Deveril.
‘You are quite correct, Miss Elizabeth.’ He turned to Jane. ‘Please forgive me. I had no intention of embarrassing you. It was simply too tempting to prolong the pleasure of being seen as a person rather than a title.’
While they spoke, Jane took a deep calming breath. As she overcame her initial surprise, she could see Deveril’s point of view. ‘Although I am not enamoured by your deception, I can sympathise.’ She sighed and added in a murmur, ‘At least you are not the heir, or worse, the duke.’
That statement was greeted with a grimace.
‘Perhaps it would be best if I explained further. My older brother, who is significantly older than myself was born to my father’s first wife, who died when John was about fifteen.
My mother, who is actually several years younger than my brother, was my father’s second wife, whom he married when it became clear that my brother had no intention ever to marry and continue the family name, which makes me the heir presumptive.
’ He did not add that his brother had never had any interest in women at all.
Deveril shrugged and glanced at everyone in the room.
‘This needs to stay confidential for the moment,’ he said and waited until he had agreement from all, before he explained.
‘The reason I was out of town was because my brother is ill and he wants to put his affairs in order, since the doctors do not expect him to survive for much more than another year… if that.’
He turned to Jane. ‘Chances are that by Christmas next year I will be the Duke of Barrington.’
‘Oh dear,’ was all a stunned Jane could utter.
~T~
While the conversation continued to swirl around her, Jane’s thoughts and emotions turned into a maelstrom. She and Mr Deveril, no… she and Lord James had never really talked about their circumstances. They had spoken about their interests on those few occasions when they had met.
Jane had felt an instant connection to the man.
She had felt comfortable in his presence; respected and safe.
It had never occurred to her that he was anything other than a gentleman.
She had had the impression that he owned a small estate, which suited her perfectly.
Having grown up at Longbourn, she knew what was expected of the mistress of an estate… a small estate.
When Deveril had declared his interest in her before his departure, she had been thrilled to accept his attention. But that was before she had learnt about his true station in society. Now she felt as if she had been betrayed.
Mrs Bennet would have been thrilled for her oldest and most beautiful daughter to have captured the interest of a man in Lord James’ position.
Mrs Bennet would have thought it to be Jane’s due, after all she could not be so beautiful for nothing, but Jane herself had never wanted to be part of high society.
She had hoped to find a man from a similar background as herself with whom she could be happy.
The idea of having to deal with the bon ton scared her witless.
I do not want to be a duchess. I do not know how to be a duchess. I cannot possibly be a duchess. Those thoughts kept circling and repeating in her mind, making her more agitated by the minute.
Suddenly Jane felt as if she could no longer breathe. She jumped up and rushed to the open window, where she leant on the frame, breathing deeply and holding back her tears.
~T~
Deveril had watched the building panic in Jane’s eyes with concern.
He admitted to himself that he had misjudged the situation.
He had thought that after the initial surprise, Jane would take the situation in her stride.
Perhaps she would be a little embarrassed about calling him Mr Deveril, but he had expected her to quickly overcome that discomfiture and would be able to laugh about it.
She had seemed so comfortable with him and appeared full of confidence when they conversed. Panic was not a reaction he had expected.
Ignoring the others, he rose and carefully approached the lady.
‘Miss Bennet, will you tell me what is troubling you?’ Deveril asked softly, so as not to startle her. At present she seemed as vulnerable and fragile as a day-old chick.
That quiet question had the effect of pulling Jane out of her spiralling panic.
She tried to calm her breathing as she raised her eyes to Deveril’s concerned gaze. ‘I cannot be a duchess,’ she gasped. ‘Forgive me if I seem presumptuous to think that you would offer for me, but the idea fills me with dread.’
‘It is not presumptuous at all, but being a duchess is not so dreadful as all that. My mother will vouch for that.’ His lips quirked into an encouraging smile. ‘She often told me that what she enjoys as a duchess is that there are very few people who may give her orders.’
That quip achieved its aim in raising a tiny smile on Jane’s lips even as she said, ‘But I know nothing about being a member of the nobility.’
‘They are people just like everyone else. Some are good while others are bad, and most are somewhere in between. Some care for their people and estates and others let them go to wrack and ruin. Some are intelligent and pleasant company, others not so much. Many are wealthy and others have squandered their fortunes.’
He shrugged. ‘As I said, they are just people. Admittedly, many are arrogant and full of… their own importance. Although some of them can learn,’ he added after a small pause with an amused glance at Darcy.
As Deveril spoke, Jane gradually relaxed and sat down on the window seat.
Since she now faced the room, she noticed her aunt and sisters sitting at the edge of their seats, looking as if they were ready to spring to her rescue.
She managed a small smile and shook her head, whereupon her family settled back into their chairs.
Deveril watched the exchange with relief. He indicated the spot beside Jane and asked, ‘May I?’
When she nodded permission, he sat down and said, ‘You know, my mother would very much like to meet you. She also would be delighted to help in any way she can.’
They then sat quietly for several minutes while Jane processed the information. Deveril waited patiently until Jane said carefully, ‘Forgive me for saying so, but you speak as if you had already made up your mind.’
‘I have. You are everything that I had hoped for in a lady and I pray that in time you will feel the same.’
Jane was tempted to say, I had not hoped to find a lady, but knew that such levity was inappropriate at present. She recognised that she was using humour to ease her nervousness.
While she was ruminating on the deception which Lord James had perpetrated, it occurred to her that she was guilty of a subterfuge of her own.
‘Lord James, as we are clearing up misconceptions, I have a confession of my own to make. I am not the poor country Miss I have pretended to be.’
‘Are you not the daughter of a gentleman?’
‘That part is the truth, but I am not poor. As a matter of fact, thanks to my great aunt Mrs Mary Carleton I have a considerable fortune of my own,’ Jane said and carefully watched for Deveril’s reaction.
His brows rose briefly in surprise, but his smile remained pleasant and unconcerned. ‘Although I have no need for a bride with a large dowry, it will make life easier for you once it becomes known that you have no need for my fortune.’
Deveril spoke nothing but the truth when he claimed not to care that Jane was an heiress, but he was relieved on her behalf that she was wealthy since it would make her much more acceptable to a society who valued such material matters.
‘You do not care to know how much it is?’
‘I suppose I should know the amount since it will have to be mentioned as belonging to you in the marriage articles… if you decide that you like me well enough.’
His answer surprised Jane yet again as it had not occurred to her that a potential husband would not wish to have control of her fortune. This attitude strengthened her feelings for him and also reassured her that this match might be possible on equal terms.
‘I have an inheritance of property and cash which come to a total of about a hundred thousand pounds,’ she said.
Jane had the pleasure of seeing his surprise as he exclaimed, ‘A hundred…’ He broke off and regained control of his voice and expression. He said quietly, ‘It is no wonder that you have kept quiet about the size of your fortune. You would be hounded by every man in town.’
‘You can see that like you, I am exceedingly glad to have met someone who was interested in me rather than the size of my fortune.’
‘Indeed.’ He glanced at Darcy and Fitzwilliam. ‘I gather they do not know?’
‘I believe that the Colonel suspects that we are well off, but not the full extent of it.’
‘You may count on my discretion.’ Deveril gave her a speculative look. ‘You could always pretend that if word were to get out, that as the oldest sister, you inherited the lion’s share of the fortune to spare your sisters undue attention.’
‘I shall certainly consider it, although I hope it will not be necessary.’
~T~
The sisters and Mrs Gardiner had been concerned about Jane’s reaction to Lord James’ revelations.
They wanted to follow as he rushed to Jane’s side but decided to wait as he seemed to be able to calm her. When Jane relaxed and smiled at them, the ladies returned their attention to the other visitors.
Darcy was amazed to see that Miss Bennet appeared distraught at discovering Deveril’s position rather than to be jumping for joy.
It upset his view of the world. No wonder that his aunt had taken a liking to the sisters if they were all like that.
Now his chagrin at having refused an introduction to Miss Elizabeth back at Meryton was even greater.
To think that he had been missing out on the company, properly chaperoned of course, of an intelligent and attractive lady for the last several weeks while he was nursing bruises inflicted by his cousin instead, made his realisation doubly painful.
Something of his thoughts must have shown on his face as Elizabeth asked, ‘Are you well, Mr Darcy?’
Recalled to the present he turned to her and smiled, albeit somewhat tentatively. ‘It has just been driven home to me how much of a fool I was,’ he said quietly. ‘I had not thought that there were any ladies who did not care for position or material things.’
‘You are surprised by Jane. What were you expecting?’
‘Before yesterday, I only saw her the once at that assembly at Meryton when she danced with my friend. During the brief time I spent at Netherfield, I had very contradictory reports about your sister.
Elizabeth grinned at him. ‘Let me guess,’ she said as she raised her clasped hand to her chin and lowered her voice.
‘She is an angel sent from heaven to bring joy to the world. Her beauty and sweetness are unmatched by any other woman, and I cannot imagine my life without her.’ Her expression took on a sour and scowling demeanour.
‘She is a mercenary spawn from hell. That chit is only interested in my brother for his fortune. Miss Bennet does not care a pin for dear, sweet Charles, but if he offered for her, I wager that Mrs Bennet would not allow her to reject his suit.’
Lizzy’s expression went back to amusement. ‘How close was I?’
‘You were just about perfect,’ Darcy applauded with a laugh. ‘In both cases. The stage is poorer for not having you grace its boards. You have a remarkable gift.’
‘For acting or for seeing the truth?’
Slightly taken aback by the question, Darcy took a moment before he answered. ‘You have a gift for recognising and portraying the truth,’ he said, inclining his head in respect.
Elizabeth returned the gesture. ‘Well said, Mr Darcy. You do have a way with words when you take the trouble.’
They became so engrossed in their conversation that neither noticed that Mary and Fitzwilliam also became lost in their own world.
Mrs Gardiner sat back in her chair and sipped her tea while she watched the three couples which seemed to be forming before her eyes.
~T~